Gardeners' Notes:

Of over 100 trees that I have viewed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison arboretum, this one has the most outstanding fragrance by far. The tree has a delicious sweet-spicy clove fragrance that is uncommonly strong. It is also a very beautiful tree, with shiny dark reddish bark.

'Satin Cloud' crabapple was named for its appearance in bloom – as a rounded satin cloud. This fine Fiala selection was introduced and patented by Klehm Nursery, South Barrington, IL.

This disease resistant compact crabapple is a very rounded (as if sheared) tree to 10 ft high and wide (3 m x 3 m). It has very fine branches, very heavily textured leathery deep rich green leaves in summer, and is graced with brilliant shades of orange-red and purple in the autumn.

The abundant buds are pale, faintly pink-white, opening to large, single, pure white flowers that have a delightful cinnamon-clove fragrance which is very strong on older trees. The fruit is small, turning from green-yellow to amber-yellow, and is persistent.

As this new tree becomes... read more available, it will be excellent for the small home garden and for any focal point in the landscape.